Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
I stand accused just like you
For being born without a silver spoon
Stood at the top of a hill
Over my town I was found
I've been on the shelf too long
Sitting at home in my bed too long
Got my things and now I'm gone
How's the world gonna from take me?
Finding myself used to be hard
But now I see the light
If love is a drug
Then I don't need it
I've been on the shelf too long
Sitting at home in my bed too long
Now it's time to hear my song
How are you gonna take it?
I've been on the shelf too long
Think the words without the song
Never had a way to go
Tell me now I'll take it
I've been on the shelf too long
I've been on the shelf too long
I've been on the shelf too long
We've got a lot of living to do
There's a door in my mind that's open wide
Come inside, come inside
Jesus never saved me
He'll never save you too, and you know!
I've got a little sticker on the back of my boot
This is music
And now I see the light shining bright in my eyes
If love is the drug then it ain't for me
Well music is my life
And loved by me
I'm gonna move on the floor with my sweet young thing
Down, down, down we go till I reach the bottom
Of our soul with this is music
For being born without a silver spoon
Stood at the top of a hill
Over my town I was found
I've been on the shelf too long
Sitting at home in my bed too long
Got my things and now I'm gone
How's the world gonna from take me?
Finding myself used to be hard
But now I see the light
If love is a drug
Then I don't need it
I've been on the shelf too long
Sitting at home in my bed too long
Now it's time to hear my song
How are you gonna take it?
I've been on the shelf too long
Think the words without the song
Never had a way to go
Tell me now I'll take it
I've been on the shelf too long
I've been on the shelf too long
I've been on the shelf too long
We've got a lot of living to do
There's a door in my mind that's open wide
Come inside, come inside
Jesus never saved me
He'll never save you too, and you know!
I've got a little sticker on the back of my boot
This is music
And now I see the light shining bright in my eyes
If love is the drug then it ain't for me
Well music is my life
And loved by me
I'm gonna move on the floor with my sweet young thing
Down, down, down we go till I reach the bottom
Of our soul with this is music
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Punchline
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Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
American Town
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Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Wow. One contribution only? This is like the most touching piece of music I have heard in a long while. To me, it's about being a musician. (I've been on the shelf too long. Sitting at home on my bed too long. Now it's time to hear my song.) The name of the song seems to be telling the listener that "music is the life i'm living now; this is music"
The writer sees music as something that reflects his thoughts about his life. Writing a song and the emotions and thoughts that go into it. (We've got a lot of living to do. There's a door in my mind that's open wide)
And of course the fun... (I'm gonna move on the floor with my sweet young thing. Down down down we go till we reach the bottom. Of our soul with this is music.)
what beautiful lyrics! It's sooooooooooooo so pretty there is nothing prettier ever to exist ever. I wish the author were here so I could give him a hug!
Uh...I think I may like it a little too much...
This is a great tune one of the best on the disappointing Northern Soul album. Ashcroft was well know for making a lot of bold statements at this point of his career and going by the title, this seems to be one of them. When the Northern Soul album was in its recording process the band members especially Ashcroft were taking a large amounts of ecstasy. So the lyrics in my opinion could just have an ambiguous meaning as a result of the high's on being on ecstasy.
i .do. love this song. and it's really applicable to any art thing really, that you fall in love with it, that it's your life. also, i can relate, the whole being on my shelf too long and how's the world gonna take me bit. this is really one of the verve's best, in my opinion.
To me this feels like somebody who lives in a small dead end town or somewhere that they dont want to be, and has finally decided they they have had enough and finally gained the strength to leave.
"Stood at the top of a hill over my town, I was found" - Wow.
How can anyone call Northern Soul dissapointing? That just begs belief. It is so much more honest than the overproduced, steralized more successful successor. To understand the Verve is to understand this album.
This Is Music is my favourite Verve song. I love History, but somehow the London reference by a lad from Wigan grates with me.
It is about musical freedom, discovering your own sound and then getting off your arse to do something with that vision and then making that your all consuming passion (or drug). A passion which ultimately led to friction in the band and the break-up of the Verve.
Simply stunning and I have to admit that on the back of my iPod is engraved the simple lyric "This Is Music", says it all.
This song is kinda like Bittersweet Symph. since both involve music and life but This is Music views it (music) as all the things simonflay states and Bittersweet views music as a soundtrack
I think Ashcroft is singing about sucicide because the person in the song hasnt found love or doesnt feel loved.
'Stood at the top of my hill over my town, i was found' - Possibly means suicide
'Ive been on the shelf too long' - 'Left on the shelf' is a term used when someone hasnt gotten married or found love.
Sitting at home on my bed too long - Depression maybe?,
Now it's time to hear my song - Suicide note?
How are you gonna take it - How are you gonna react?
Finding myself used to be hard,But now, I see the light - Now that the person is dead they realise they were wrong about themselves.
If love is a drug,Then I don't need it - They now know they were loved afterall
Jesus never saved me,He'll never save you too, and you know - Jesus didnt save them from themselves,Maybe they have lost faith?
Yeah i know i think to much,Im probably wrong but thats the way i see it.
Ashcroft is a poet.
Or more literally, if he's writing it from his home town point of view, thinking about escape elsewhere (got my things and now i've gone..). plenty of big hills around Wigan, there's Rivington which overlooks Haigh Hall & Country Park, which itself overlooks the valley that the town centre lies in, then hills back up over the other side to ?Billinge, i think? (Apols if any mistakes there, am a newcomer to the land of Pies). could be wrong but some of the pics on the this is music single look like they were shot up rivington.
An arms in the air statement of intent.